Topic: Afterschool Nutrition Programs

We are still celebrating the passage of the Healthy Parks Amendments Act of 2018, which became law in November 2018. The new law requires the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to offer all youth attending a DPR-sponsored afterschool enrichment program a supper through the Afterschool Nutrition Programs. DPR is one of the largest providers of afterschool programming in the District, and increasing the reach of afterschool meals through DPR will help ensure more low-income children receive a supper once their classes wrap up for the day.

During the holidays and all year long, millions of individuals and families who struggle against hunger are able to access healthy food with support from the federal nutrition programs. To celebrate the nation’s nutrition safety net, FRAC is releasing a seven-part “Remember This December” series that will highlight the impact of seven important federal nutrition programs.

This is the second installment of the series, which focuses on afterschool meals. Read the previous installment on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

FRAC’s Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation report released this week finds that in October 2017, 1.2 million children received an afterschool supper, an 11 percent increase from October 2016, and 1.6 million children received a snack on an average weekday. More than 46,000 afterschool programs provided a supper, a snack, or both through the Afterschool Nutrition Programs in October 2017.

Once school lets out for the day, many children from struggling households face the possibility of going hungry until they are back at school for breakfast. Tight family budgets and parents’ work schedules can mean students will leave school without knowing supper is guaranteed at home.